While the prime minister said the vote was for national integration and democracy, Sonia said the election was a 'lesson to be learnt by our neighbours', an apparent reference to Pakistan.

"It does not matter who wins; what matters is the people of the Valley, people of Jammu and people of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] have expressed their faith in the democratic system. It is a lesson to be learnt by our neighbours," Sonia told media persons on the sidelines of the Congress Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi [Images].